Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Schultz, Tor P.

Committee Member

Nicholas, Darrel D.

Committee Member

DuBien, Janice

Committee Member

Amburgey, Terry L.

Date of Degree

5-1-2010

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Forest Products

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Forest Products

Abstract

This study investigates modifications to AWPA Standard E18-06 to develop an above-ground field test for subterranean termites native to the eastern United States. AWPA Standard E18-06 was modified in two stages to progressively increase optimum conditions for subterranean termite feeding. Modification II, which incorporated the use of house bricks and feeder strips with a solid ventilated cover, had an increase in termite attack with less variation between tests. This study also investigates the effects of adding antioxidants, both natural and synthetic, and analogues which lack antioxidant properties, to test wood blocks on feeding by Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar using AWPA Standard E1-09. Antioxidants had feeding deterrence and mortality properties to R. flavipes. Conversely, the non-antioxidant analogues, with the exception of the heterocyclic flavanone, had little effect on R. flavipes. It is concluded that R. flavipes instinctively avoids wood which contains high levels of antioxidants, such as heartwood with phenolic extractives.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/16194

Comments

subterranean termites||antioxidants||benign||extractives||Termites.||Termites--Control.||Hardwoods--Disease and pest resistance.||Wood--Preservation.

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